'It's Heartbreaking': MO Art Supply Will Close for Good on Sunday

The store opened in the Delmar Loop in August and hoped to fill the void left by Blick's departure

Feb 21, 2024 at 1:17 pm

From left: Mohammed Qadadeh, Brittney Parker, Sophia Malone and Bob Madden. Jessica Rogen

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MO Art Supply (6174 Delmar Boulevard) opened just east of the Delmar Loop in August, hoping to fill the void left by Blick's recent departure for South Hanley Road.

But those dreams were short-lived. Co-founder Mohammed Qadadeh says the store will close for good on Sunday.

"It's heartbreaking," Qadadeh says. "The store is amazing. It just has not generated enough sales to sustain a business."

Qadadeh, who also owns Meshuggah Cafe and American Falafel in the Loop, had teamed up with artist Bob Madden and two recent University of Missouri-St. Louis graduates, Brittney Parker to Sophia Malone, to launch the store. They had high hopes for an inclusive space that also sold all the supplies an artist could need. An eye-catching mural by rising star artist Cbabi Bayoc provided street appeal.

But retail is a tough business in 2024, especially when you're outside a major shopping district (no matter how painstakingly close you may be). Qadadeh says he saw no choice but to close — and close quickly. "The longer we stay open, the more broken it is," he says. "I wish I had an investor, or even donations, to keep it open. But I can do it on my own."

The store is offering everything at 60 percent off before closing its doors and will be keeping regular hours through Sunday.

Says Qadadeh, "I appreciate everybody that supported us, all the community that we did this for. " He says he hopes the mural will continue to delight people walking or driving on Delmar even after the store is gone: "I hope it will be there for some time for everybody to enjoy."

click to enlarge

Jessica Rogen

Cbabi Bayoc painted a mural on the side of the building that houses MO Art Supply.

MO Art Supply Fills a Void on Delmar Boulevard: The community-focused art store opened just east of the Loop this week

Slideshow

Shop Local at These 23 St. Louis Stores We Love in 2023

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Elder's AntiquesWhat spins the record on an archaeophile’s Victrola varies per person, and so choosing where to shop for antiques is a very subjective choice. You may like the massive antique malls that seem to stretch on for miles. Or maybe you prefer to stick to the smaller, more curated shops. Elder’s Antiques (2124 Cherokee Street) is a happy medium. You’ll still find a fair share of random and quirky shit, but you’ll also find nicer stuff from more elegant days when people didn’t buy all their housewares from Target. On the first floor, booths are often stuffed to the brim with everything from curios, china dinnerware and lost family photos. A massive space upstairs features room after room of vintage furniture and art. Helpful staff — who likely belong to the Elder family, which has run the antique store for four generations —- are always around to help and divulge history on any given item. —Monica Obradovic

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About The Author

Sarah Fenske

Sarah Fenske is the executive editor of the RFT and its sister papers. She is the former host of St. Louis on the Air and continues to host its Legal Roundtable, as well participating as an occasional panelist on Nine PBS' Donnybrook. She lives in St. Louis.

Email Sarah Fenske